Megyn Kelly tore into WNBA star Caitlin Clark after the latter sheepishly credited white "privilege" to some degree for her success after being crowned Time’s Athlete of the Year.
Clark, a transcendent, once-in-a-generation talent who not only delivers on the hardwood, but has literally transformed the local economy in Indianapolis to the tune of over $36 million, and is a symbol of inspiration for aspiring athletes across the globe, deserves every bit of the accolades afforded to her by Time.
And yet, tucked away in their glowing review of the Indiana Fever guard are comments from the WNBA MVP, A'ja Wilson, who, prior to the season's start, said race was a “huge” contributor to Clark's popularity.
With that background, Time dips into Clark's own assessment as to whether or not there are racial undertones to her success. Would a black player named Caitlin Clark, who can shoot threes from the logo, be getting the same attention?
Clark relents, saying she'd like to think she deserves the attention ... but:
“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” she is quoted in the Time writeup. “A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them."
"The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important," she added. "I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
The media perpetually demonizes Clark and her very vocal supporters as being racist. That doesn't seem like privilege. The Rookie of the Year has been the leading recipient of flagrant fouls — 17 percent of those called during the season — in a league where black players make up a large percentage of the team rosters. And that doesn't seem like white privilege, either.
Podcaster Megyn Kelly absolutely tore into Clark for what she considers bending the knee to the media-driven race narrative.
"Look at this," Kelly wrote on X. "She’s on the knee all but apologizing for being white and getting attention."
"The self-flagellation. The 'oh pls pay attention to the black players who are REALY the ones you want to celebrate,'" the former Fox News host lamented. "Condescending. Fake. Transparent. Sad."
Look at this. She’s on the knee all but apologizing for being white and getting attention. The self-flagellation. The “oh pls pay attention to the black players who are REALY the ones you want to celebrate.” Condescending. Fake. Transparent. Sad. https://t.co/cTzk0CTLPn
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) December 10, 2024
It is, of course, all of those things. Caitlin Clark should not be forced to apologize for turning an unwatchable game in an unwatchable league for decades into perpetual must-see TV.
Clark is the only hope of turning the WNBA into a profitable league right now, and the players have spent her entire historic rookie season physically going after her on the court, then trashing her fans off the court.
As ESPN commentator Shannon Sharpe has said, "Y’all mad because that cornfed Iowa girl busting y’all a**!”
That behavior towards her is actually the opposite of privilege.
The Sisterhood of the Perpetually Offended Really Hates Caitlin Clark
Clark has been responsible for an astonishing 26.5 percent of the WNBA’s activity this season, including attendance, merchandise sales, and television viewership, according to a report in the Indianapolis Star.
“Good luck naming another player who altered the trajectory of their entire team sport within five months on the job,” Time says in their Athlete of the Year article.
If anything, the WNBA should feel privileged to have her in the league.
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